BitGo institutional clients can stake across major networks while their assets stay inside BitGo custody. P2P.org operates the validator infrastructure underneath.
TL;DR
Who BitGo is
BitGo debuted on the 2026 Fortune 500 at No. 273 with $16.2 billion in revenue in 2025, and operates BitGo Bank & Trust, the first federally chartered digital asset trust bank owned by a public company.
What matters for staking is the standard that comes with that. A federal trust bank carries capital requirements, regular audits, and fiduciary oversight. Any partner BitGo places behind client assets is held to the same standard.
Staking used to mean leaving custody
A regulated institution that wanted to stake usually had to move assets to a separate provider. That meant a different security model and a second set of operational processes running next to the controls compliance had already approved.
Most institutions found it hard to justify. The validator was rarely the problem. The work involved rebuilding governance around a new provider, and it was so heavy that many decided staking was not worth offering.
Staking inside BitGo removes that work
Assets stay in regulated qualified custody with BitGo Bank & Trust. The security model does not change. The same controls that cover custody, the approval flows, the access policies, and the audit trails also cover staking.
A BitGo client can enable P2P.org validator operations inside their current setup instead of standing up a new one. That is what moves staking from a project to a feature. The institution is not taking on new infrastructure. Instead, it is unlocking new capabilities within its existing, trusted infrastructure.
Why P2P.org
P2P.org has operated non-custodial validator infrastructure since 2018, across 40+ networks, for more than 130 institutional clients. When a custodian relies on outside infrastructure for client assets, it inherits that infrastructure's track record, so the diligence is unforgiving. Three critical dynamics carry the most weight:
Slashing: Networks penalize validators that go offline or act incorrectly, and the penalty is taken from staked assets. A clean history is the closest thing to a verifiable track record the sector has. P2P.org has recorded zero slashing events to date.
Uptime: A validator that drops offline costs rewards and, on some networks, triggers penalties. P2P.org typically runs at 99.9%+ uptime, the output of monitoring, redundancy, and on-call coverage run separately for every network.
Audited controls: Institutions need claims attested, not asserted. P2P.org holds SOC 2 Type II attestation, which lets a custodian map its operations onto the compliance framework already in place rather than treating staking as an exception.
Eight years. Zero slashing events. $10B+ staked. 99.9%+ uptime. SOC 2 Type II.
Why this matters beyond one integration
For most regulated institutions, the limit on staking has been governance fit, not validator quality. Integrating a provider one institution at a time is slow, because each runs the same review on its own.
Putting validator operations inside a custody platform an institution already uses reaches that institution through a path it has already approved. BitGo is one of the largest of those platforms, and a partner of its standard is a reference point for the rest of the market. The same record is the base that P2P.org is extending as it moves further into institutional DeFi.
Get started
Already on BitGo? Access P2P.org validator operations directly within the BitGo platform.
Building a platform? Integrate P2P.org validator infrastructure into your custody or digital asset platform, the way BitGo did. Talk to P2P.org.
Disclaimer: Staking rewards are protocol-generated, variable, and subject to network rules, validator performance, and applicable slashing or protocol risks. P2P.org does not control or set reward rates.
BitGo institutional clients can stake across major networks while their assets stay inside BitGo custody. P2P.org operates the validator infrastructure underneath.
<p><strong>Series: Hub | Institutional Staking</strong><br><br>The Institutional Staking Hub is <a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a>'s definitive reference for institutions building proof-of-stake programs. From foundational concepts to infrastructure selection and risk architecture, each article addresses a specific operational or technical dimension that determines how a staking program performs in practice.<br>Previously in the series: <a href="https://p2p.org/economy/liquid-staking-for-institutions/">Liquid Staking for Institutions: A Complete Guide for Funds, Custodians, and Treasury Team</a></p><hr><h2 id="learnings-for-busy-readers">Learnings for Busy Readers</h2><p>What this article covers:</p><ul><li>What restaking for institutions is and how it differs from native and liquid staking</li><li>How actively validated services work and what they mean for institutional capital</li><li>The reward mechanics of restaking and where protocol-generated rewards come from</li><li>The risk categories specific to restaking for institutions</li><li>How liquid restaking tokens work and what they add to the risk profile</li><li>What the operator selection decision means for institutional programs</li><li>A due diligence checklist for evaluating restaking programs</li></ul><p>The core argument: Restaking extends the utility of staked capital by allowing it to simultaneously secure additional protocols beyond the base layer. For institutions, that extension introduces stacked slashing exposure, AVS-level smart contract risk, and operator concentration risk that must be explicitly assessed before any restaking program is designed. Restaking is not a yield enhancement on top of staking. It is a structurally different risk commitment.</p><h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2><p>Restaking for institutions has moved from an experimental DeFi primitive to a multi-billion dollar infrastructure category in under two years. Restaking protocols reached approximately $18 billion in TVL in 2025, peaking above $20 billion, with institutional flows into restaking strategies increasing alongside regulatory clarity and the yield differential compared with traditional finance. Source: <a href="https://stakin.com/blog/understanding-slashing-in-proof-of-stake-key-risks-for-validators-and-delegators?ref=p2p.org">Stakin</a></p><p>The regulatory environment is developing but restaking sits outside the scope of the March 2026 SEC and CFTC joint interpretation, which explicitly excluded restaking from its covered protocol staking activities. Institutions engaged in restaking should treat their programs as operating in a legally uncertain environment and consult counsel on both securities law and CEA implications. Source: <a href="https://www.gibsondunn.com/sec-issues-interpretive-guidance-on-application-of-federal-securities-laws-to-crypto-assets-and-related-activities/?ref=p2p.org">Gibson Dunn</a></p><p>For custodians, funds, ETF issuers, and treasury teams, the question is now operational: what is restaking exactly, how do actively validated services work, what are the risk categories that are distinct from native and liquid staking, and what does a compliant, institutional-grade restaking program actually require?</p><p>This article answers those questions from the ground up.</p><h2 id="what-restaking-for-institutions-is">What Restaking for Institutions Is</h2><p>In native staking, capital secures a single proof-of-stake network. Staked ETH secures Ethereum. That is its one function. When an institution stakes ETH, it earns the protocol-generated rewards the Ethereum network distributes to validators and delegators. The staked capital does one job.</p><p>Restaking changes that architecture. It allows staked ETH, or liquid staking tokens representing staked ETH, to simultaneously secure additional services built on top of or alongside the base layer. Traditional proof-of-stake staking secures a single network. Restaking extends that security to additional services without requiring new validator sets or fresh capital. Stakers opt in to securing external services and earn additional protocol-generated rewards on top of their base staking rewards, in exchange for accepting additional slashing risk.</p><p>Those external services are called Actively Validated Services, or AVSs. An AVS is any system that needs distributed validation or security: oracle networks, data availability layers, cross-chain bridges, sequencers, and verification services. Each AVS defines its own slashing conditions, its own reward structure, and its own operational requirements for the operators securing it.</p><p>For institutions, restaking is not a passive add-on to an existing staking program. It is a decision to extend capital commitment across multiple slashing surfaces simultaneously, in exchange for additional protocol-generated rewards from each AVS the institution opts into. The risk and reward profile changes materially with each additional AVS.</p><h2 id="how-actively-validated-services-work">How Actively Validated Services Work</h2><p>Understanding AVSs is the prerequisite for evaluating any restaking program. An AVS is a service that uses restaked capital as its economic security layer instead of bootstrapping its own validator set from scratch.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption"><img src="https://p2p.org/economy/content/images/2026/07/p2p-restaking-architecture-institutional.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="A three-layer vertical diagram showing the institutional restaking architecture. At the bottom, the Ethereum base layer handles proof-of-stake consensus and base staking rewards. In the middle, the restaking protocol manages stake allocation, operator sets, and slashing enforcement. At the top, three actively validated services, including an oracle network, a data availability layer, and a cross-chain bridge, each receive staked capital and return AVS protocol-generated rewards shown as dashed arrows flowing upward to the institution." loading="lazy" width="1600" height="900" srcset="https://p2p.org/economy/content/images/size/w600/2026/07/p2p-restaking-architecture-institutional.jpg 600w, https://p2p.org/economy/content/images/size/w1000/2026/07/p2p-restaking-architecture-institutional.jpg 1000w, https://p2p.org/economy/content/images/2026/07/p2p-restaking-architecture-institutional.jpg 1600w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"><figcaption><i><em class="italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The institutional restaking architecture. Staked ETH or LSTs flow from the Ethereum base layer through the restaking protocol into actively validated services, with each AVS generating independent protocol rewards and adding an independent slashing surface.</em></i></figcaption></figure><p>AVSs are the demand side of EigenLayer's security marketplace. An AVS can be a data availability layer, oracle network, bridge, decentralized sequencer, AI verification system, off-chain compute service, or any system that needs distributed validation. Each AVS defines conditions under which an operator's stake can be slashed. If an operator fails to meet those conditions correctly, the AVS can initiate a slashing event against the staked capital backing that operator. Source: <a href="https://www.dlnews.com/research/internal/state-of-defi-2025/?ref=p2p.org">DL News</a></p><p>The institutional implication is that every AVS an institution opts into is an independent slashing surface. Securing one AVS adds one set of slashing conditions on top of the base Ethereum staking slashing conditions. Securing five AVSs adds five independent slashing surfaces, each with its own operational requirements and governance frameworks.</p><p>EigenLayer mitigates correlated slashing exposure with isolated stake allocation, while Symbiotic uses per-vault slashing boundaries to limit how much stake is exposed to any single service. These mechanisms reduce but do not eliminate the compounding slashing exposure that AVS diversification creates.</p><p>For institutional due diligence, each AVS must be evaluated independently: its audit history, its slashing conditions, its governance, its revenue model, and the track record of the operators securing it.</p><h2 id="the-reward-mechanics-of-restaking-for-institutions">The Reward Mechanics of Restaking for Institutions</h2><p>Protocol-generated rewards in a restaking program come from two independent sources. The first is the base layer staking reward: the Ethereum network's protocol-defined reward for validator participation in consensus. The second is the AVS reward: the rewards each AVS distributes to operators and restakers for securing its service.</p><p>The basic restaking reward stack in 2026 looks like this: 3 to 4% from base Ethereum staking, 1 to 2% from EigenLayer AVS rewards, and a variable amount of points or token rewards on top. Total rewards typically land in the 4% to 7% range when paid in protocol-generated rewards, higher when speculative token incentives are included.</p><p>The composition of AVS rewards matters for institutional programs. Rewards denominated in the AVS's own token introduce token price risk and liquidity risk that do not exist in ETH-denominated base staking rewards. Institutions must assess whether AVS reward streams can be received, accounted for, and reported under their applicable accounting and compliance frameworks.</p><p>At present, most restaking infrastructure relies on token incentives rather than distributing actual sustainable protocol-generated yield. Analysts predict that, in the future, strategic AVS selection and active portfolio management will play a central role in optimizing reward outcomes for restaked capital. Source: <a href="https://nftplazas.com/defi-statistics/?ref=p2p.org">NFT Plazas</a></p><p>Network conditions determine protocol-generated rewards and are variable. <a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a> does not control or set reward rates for base staking or AVS participation.</p><h2 id="the-risk-categories-specific-to-restaking-for-institutions">The Risk Categories Specific to Restaking for Institutions</h2><p>Restaking introduces a risk profile that is structurally more complex than native or liquid staking. Each category requires explicit assessment before any institutional restaking program is designed.</p><h3 id="1-stacked-slashing-risk"><strong>1. Stacked slashing risk</strong></h3><p>Native staking carries one set of slashing conditions: the Ethereum protocol rules governing validator behavior. Restaking adds the slashing conditions of every AVS the institution opts into. One of the most pressing issues for institutional participants is the risk of slashing when assets are delegated across multiple networks simultaneously. Each AVS comes with its own risk profile, and the compounding effect of minor risks across multiple services can result in significant losses for institutional portfolios. The absence of a standardized slashing recovery mechanism further complicates risk management. <a href="https://nftplazas.com/defi-statistics/?ref=p2p.org">NFT Plazas</a></p><p>Slashing events triggered by AVS-level failures can result in permanent loss of a portion of the restaked capital. Institutions must assess the slashing conditions of each AVS in their approved list and model correlated slashing scenarios across their full restaking program.</p><h3 id="2-operator-concentration-risk">2. Operator concentration risk</h3><p>In most restaking architectures, institutions delegate to operators who run the node software required by each AVS. Operator selection determines uptime, rule compliance, and slashing exposure. Delegating to a single operator concentrates risk: that operator could suffer downtime, slashing, insolvency, or regulatory pressure. The same logic that applies at the network level in native staking applies at the operator level in restaking programs if an institution fails to diversify across operators. Source: <a href="https://www.precedenceresearch.com/decentralized-finance-market?ref=p2p.org">Precedence Research</a></p><p>Institutional restaking programs require operator due diligence that mirrors the validator infrastructure evaluation framework for native staking, applied independently to each AVS the institution participates in.</p><h3 id="3-smart-contract-risk">3. Smart contract risk</h3><p>Restaking protocols operate on smart contracts that govern stake allocation, slashing enforcement, and reward distribution. A vulnerability in those contracts can result in loss of capital that is independent of any slashing event. Unique Stake Allocation in EigenLayer isolates slashable stake so the same chunk of capital is not freely exposed to every AVS at once, which helps limit correlated smart contract exposure across the restaking program. However, smart contract risk cannot be eliminated through protocol design alone. <a href="https://rpcfast.com/blog/blockchain-validator-service-providers?ref=p2p.org">RPC Fast</a></p><h3 id="4-avs-revenue-model-risk">4. AVS revenue model risk</h3><p>Most AVSs currently distribute rewards through token incentive programs rather than sustainable fee revenue. The restaking model's core value proposition faces structural headwinds as AVSs struggle to generate sustainable fee revenue. Without meaningful cash flows from secured applications, restaking protocols rely heavily on token emissions, creating inflationary pressure that sophisticated institutions must factor into their reward accounting. Institutions must assess the revenue sustainability of each AVS before committing capital to securing it. Source: <a href="https://p2p.org/economy/validator-due-diligence-framework-what-institutions-really-need-to-evaluate/">P2P.org</a></p><h3 id="5-liquidity-risk"><strong>5. Liquidity risk</strong></h3><p>Restaked capital is subject to unbonding periods at the base layer and, in some architectures, additional lock-up conditions imposed by individual AVSs. The liquidity profile of a restaking program is more complex than native staking and must be explicitly mapped against the institution's redemption obligations and treasury mandates.</p><h3 id="6-regulatory-and-compliance-risk">6. Regulatory and compliance risk</h3><p>The March 2026 SEC and CFTC joint interpretation explicitly excluded restaking from its covered protocol staking activities. Restaking remains legally uncertain at the federal level. AVS reward tokens carry additional classification questions that remain unresolved. Institutions must assess the treatment of each reward token type under their applicable accounting standards and regulatory framework, and consult counsel before deploying capital. Source: <a href="https://static.cahill.com/docs/CahillNXT%20Alert%20-%20Breaking%20Up%20Is%20Hard%20to%20Do%20-%20Howey%20and%20the%20SEC%E2%80%99s%20Crypto%20Asset%20Classification%20Guidance.pdf?ref=p2p.org">Cahill Gordon</a></p><h2 id="how-liquid-restaking-tokens-work">How Liquid Restaking Tokens Work</h2><p>Liquid restaking tokens, or LRTs, extend the same capital efficiency logic that liquid staking tokens introduced to native staking. When an institution restakes ETH or an LST through a liquid restaking protocol, it receives an LRT representing the restaked position. The LRT accrues the rewards of the restaking program and remains transferable and composable.</p><p>LRTs represent a claim on restaked ETH plus accrued rewards, while remaining tradable assets. By combining base staking rewards and AVS reward streams with continued liquidity, liquid restaking tokens allow capital to remain deployable while the underlying position secures multiple protocols simultaneously.</p><p>For institutions, LRTs introduce all of the risk categories that apply to liquid staking tokens: smart contract risk at the LRT protocol layer, depeg risk in secondary markets under stress conditions, and custody and accounting complexity. Those risks compound with the AVS-level slashing and smart contract risks that restaking itself introduces. The cumulative risk stack of an LRT position is materially more complex than either native staking or liquid staking alone.</p><p>In April 2026, Kelp suffered a $292 million exploit that triggered approximately $5.4 billion in withdrawals across the restaking sector. The protocol survived, but the incident reset the risk conversation around the entire liquid restaking token category. This is the risk category that institutions must model carefully before deploying capital into LRT positions.</p><h2 id="the-operator-selection-decision-for-institutional-programs">The Operator Selection Decision for Institutional Programs</h2><p>Operator selection is one of the most consequential decisions in any institutional restaking program. The operator runs the node software required by each AVS, manages the signing infrastructure, and maintains the uptime standards that determine both reward outcomes and slashing exposure.</p><p>When a user restakes, they delegate to an operator who will run the required software for each AVS. The restaker accepts that their stake can be penalized not only for Ethereum-level misconduct, but also if the operator fails to perform correctly for any of the services they choose to secure. Poor performance in one attached service can result in loss on the original stake. Source: <a href="https://www.precedenceresearch.com/decentralized-finance-market?ref=p2p.org">Precedence Research</a></p><p>For institutions, operator evaluation must cover infrastructure architecture, client diversity, key management practices, AVS selection history, slashing record, governance participation policies, and independent certification. These are the same dimensions that apply to native staking validator selection, extended to cover every AVS the operator secures.</p><p>No major slashing event has occurred across any restaking protocol as of mid-2026, but the mechanisms remain largely untested at scale. That absence of historical slashing events should not be treated as evidence of low risk. It reflects the relative youth of the category, not structural safety. Institutional programs must be designed for the slashing scenario, not against the historical average.</p><p><a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a> supports EigenLayer restaking through non-custodial operator infrastructure, with the same validator-level reporting and operational safeguards that apply to our native staking programs. Client assets remain under the institution's control throughout. Explore our EigenLayer restaking infrastructure at <a href="https://p2p.org/networks/ethereum?ref=p2p.org">p2p.org/networks/ethereum</a>.</p><h3 id="where-restaking-for-institutions-fits-in-a-digital-asset-program">Where Restaking for Institutions Fits in a Digital Asset Program</h3><p>Restaking sits at the intersection of staking infrastructure and DeFi participation. It is not a replacement for native staking. It is an extension that institutions evaluate after establishing a sound native staking foundation.</p><p>Over $58 billion in capital flows through liquid staking protocols, and an additional $18 billion has moved into restaking as of early 2026, according to DefiLlama. In Europe, several ETPs have launched that stake underlying Ethereum holdings to generate protocol-generated rewards for fund holders through familiar regulated structures. Custodial banks and institutional-grade service providers are exploring or entering the restaking market, signaling that the category has evolved from a crypto-native activity toward an institutional infrastructure consideration.</p><p>For institutions with existing ETH staking programs, the restaking evaluation question is whether the additional protocol-generated rewards from AVS participation justify the additional slashing exposure, operational complexity, and compliance requirements that restaking introduces. That is a risk management decision, not a yield optimization decision.</p><p>For institutions building new digital asset programs, the sequencing is clear: establish native staking infrastructure first, evaluate liquid staking as a capital efficiency layer second, and assess restaking as a third layer once the foundation is sound and the risk framework is explicitly designed for the additional exposure restaking creates.</p><p>Building an institutional restaking program? <a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a> provides non-custodial EigenLayer restaking infrastructure with validator-level reporting and operational safeguards designed for institutional requirements.</p><p>➡️ <a href="https://p2p.org/networks/ethereum?ref=p2p.org">Explore P2P.org EigenLayer Restaking</a></p><h2 id="due-diligence-checklist-evaluating-a-restaking-for-institutions-program">Due Diligence Checklist: Evaluating a Restaking for Institutions Program</h2><p>For custodians, hedge funds, ETF issuers, exchanges, treasury teams, infrastructure engineers, staking product managers, and risk committees evaluating or initiating a restaking program, these are the foundational questions to answer before committing capital.</p><h3 id="a-protocol-and-avs-selection">A. Protocol and AVS selection</h3><p>[ ] What is the audit history and code maturity of the restaking protocol?</p><p>[ ] Has each AVS in the approved list been independently assessed for slashing conditions, governance, and revenue model sustainability?</p><p>[ ] Does the restaking protocol use isolated stake allocation or per-vault slashing boundaries to limit correlated exposure?</p><p>[ ] What is the slashing history of the restaking protocol and each AVS in the approved list?</p><h3 id="b-operator-evaluation">B. Operator evaluation</h3><p>[ ] Does the operator run dedicated hardware with geographic redundancy and client diversity?</p><p>[ ] What is the operator's slashing history across all networks and AVSs they secure?</p><p>[ ] How does the operator manage signing keys for AVS participation alongside base layer validator operations?</p><p>[ ] Does the operator hold SOC 2 Type II or equivalent independent certification?</p><h3 id="c-reward-accounting-and-compliance">C. Reward accounting and compliance</h3><p>[ ] Are AVS rewards denominated in ETH, in the AVS's own token, or both?</p><p>[ ] Has your accounting team confirmed the tax treatment of AVS token rewards in your jurisdiction?</p><p>[ ] Does your compliance framework address the regulatory classification of AVS reward tokens applicable to your regulatory status?</p><p>[ ] Can the operator deliver validator-level reward attribution across all AVS reward streams for audit purposes?</p><h3 id="d-risk-management">D. Risk management</h3><p>[ ] Has your risk committee assessed stacked slashing exposure across your full AVS participation list?</p><p>[ ] Are concentration limits defined for exposure to any single AVS or operator?</p><p>[ ] Has your liquidity management framework been updated to reflect unbonding conditions at both the base layer and AVS level?</p><p>[ ] Has smart contract risk been assessed for both the restaking protocol and each AVS in your approved list?</p><h3 id="e-lrt-specific-questions-if-applicable">E. LRT-specific questions (if applicable)</h3><p>[ ] Has the LRT protocol's audit history and code maturity been independently assessed?</p><p>[ ] Does your custody infrastructure support LRT holdings at the token level?</p><p>[ ] Has LRT depeg risk under stress conditions been modeled against your redemption obligations?</p><h2 id="key-takeaway">Key Takeaway</h2><p>Restaking for institutions extends the utility of staked capital by allowing it to simultaneously secure additional services beyond the base proof-of-stake layer. For custodians, hedge funds, ETF issuers, exchanges, and treasury teams, that extension introduces stacked slashing exposure across multiple AVSs, operator concentration risk, AVS-level smart contract risk, and reward accounting complexity that is materially more demanding than native or liquid staking.</p><p>The infrastructure has matured, the regulatory environment has clarified, and institutional capital is moving into the category. The institutions that approach restaking as a risk management decision rather than a reward optimization exercise will be best positioned to build compliant, resilient programs as the category continues to develop.</p><p>Network conditions determine protocol-generated rewards and are variable. <a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a> does not control or set reward rates for base staking or AVS participation. Slashing risks are protocol-defined and client-borne at both the base layer and AVS level. Operational safeguards are implemented to reduce exposure, but do not eliminate protocol-level risk.</p><h2 id="frequently-asked-questions-faq">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)</h2><h3 id="what-is-restaking-for-institutions">What is restaking for institutions?</h3><p>Restaking for institutions is the extension of staked capital beyond a single proof-of-stake network to simultaneously secure additional services called actively validated services. Institutions that restake allow their staked ETH or liquid staking tokens to secure multiple protocols at once, earning protocol-generated rewards from each AVS they opt into in addition to their base layer staking rewards. The extension introduces stacked slashing exposure, operator concentration risk, and AVS-level smart contract risk that must be explicitly assessed before any restaking program is designed.</p><h3 id="how-does-restaking-differ-from-native-and-liquid-staking">How does restaking differ from native and liquid staking?</h3><p>Native staking locks capital to secure a single proof-of-stake network. Liquid staking issues a transferable receipt token at the point of staking, preserving capital flexibility while the underlying asset continues to participate in consensus. Restaking extends staked capital to secure additional services simultaneously, adding AVS-level slashing conditions and reward streams on top of the base layer staking program. Each layer introduces distinct risk categories that compound as the program extends across more AVSs.</p><h3 id="what-is-an-actively-validated-service">What is an actively validated service?</h3><p>An actively validated service is an external system that uses restaked capital as its economic security layer instead of bootstrapping its own validator set. AVSs include oracle networks, data availability layers, cross-chain bridges, decentralized sequencers, and verification services. Each AVS defines its own slashing conditions and reward structure. Institutions opting into an AVS accept those slashing conditions in exchange for the protocol-generated rewards the AVS distributes to operators and restakers.</p><h3 id="what-is-stacked-slashing-risk-in-restaking">What is stacked slashing risk in restaking?</h3><p>Stacked slashing risk is the compounding slashing exposure that results from opting into multiple AVSs simultaneously. Native staking carries one set of slashing conditions at the base layer. Each AVS added to a restaking program adds an independent set of slashing conditions. A slashing event triggered by an AVS-level failure can result in permanent loss of a portion of the restaked capital, independent of the institution's base layer staking performance. Institutions must assess the slashing conditions of each AVS independently and model correlated slashing scenarios across their full restaking program.</p><h3 id="what-is-a-liquid-restaking-token">What is a liquid restaking token?</h3><p>A liquid restaking token is a receipt token issued by a liquid restaking protocol when an institution restakes ETH or an LST. It represents the restaked position, accrues the rewards of the restaking program, and remains transferable and composable. LRTs extend the capital efficiency logic of liquid staking tokens to the restaking layer, but compound the risk profile: smart contract risk at the LRT protocol layer and depeg risk in secondary markets stack on top of the AVS-level slashing, and smart contract risks that restaking itself introduces.</p><h3 id="how-should-institutions-approach-operator-selection-in-restaking-programs">How should institutions approach operator selection in restaking programs?</h3><p>Operator selection determines uptime, AVS rule compliance, and slashing exposure across the restaking program. Institutions must evaluate operators across infrastructure architecture, client diversity, key management practices, AVS selection history, slashing record, governance participation policies, and independent certification such as SOC 2 Type II. The operator evaluation must be applied independently to each AVS the operator secures, not assessed once at the program level. Diversification across operators reduces concentration risk that would otherwise compound the existing AVS-level exposure.</p><h3 id="what-does-the-march-2026-regulatory-interpretation-mean-for-institutional-restaking">What does the March 2026 regulatory interpretation mean for institutional restaking?</h3><p>The March 2026 SEC and CFTC joint interpretation explicitly excluded restaking from its covered protocol staking activities. Restaking remains legally uncertain at the federal level, and neither the SEC nor the CFTC has issued specific guidance on it to date. Institutions engaged in restaking should treat their programs as operating outside the scope of the March 2026 interpretation and consult counsel regarding both securities law and CEA implications before allocating capital.</p><hr><p><strong>About </strong><a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org"><strong>P2P.org</strong></a></p><p>Founded in 2018, <a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a> helps institutional capital protect digital asset yield across non-custodial staking infrastructure and curated DeFi strategies. With over $10B in assets secured and operating on 40+ proof-of-stake networks, <a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a> maintains a zero-slashing-incident track record, is trusted by over 190 institutional clients and is SOC 2 Type II attested. To explore how <a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a> can support your institution's staking or DeFi infrastructure needs, <a href="https://p2p.org/contact?ref=p2p.org">get in touch with our team</a>.</p><hr><p><strong>Disclaimer</strong></p><p>This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. <a href="http://p2p.org/?ref=p2p.org">P2P.org</a> accepts no liability for any actions taken based on it. Latency and performance figures referenced are estimates based on internal benchmarks and may vary depending on network conditions, geography, and client infrastructure. Past performance is not indicative of future results.</p>
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